Nathan Apea Aferi

Major General Nathan Apea Aferi (September 1923 – 8 April 2003) was a soldier and politician in Ghana. He was a former Chief of the Defence Staff of Ghana. He also served briefly as Foreign Minister of Ghana.

Nathan Apea Aferi
16th Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)
In office 1972–1972
President	Kutu Acheampong
Preceded by	William Ofori Atta
Succeeded by	Lt. Colonel Kwame Baah
Personal details
Born	September 1923 Mampong-Akuapim[1]
Died	8 April 2003 (aged 79) Accra, Ghana
Nationality	Ghanaian
Profession	Soldier
Military service
Allegiance	Ghana
Branch/service	Ghana army
Rank	Major General
Commands	Chief of the Defence Staff

Career

Congo

Aferi served with the United Nations Operation in the Congo now the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the time, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ghana army. He is reported to have been on guard at Radio Congo when Patrice Lumumba attempted a broadcast in the confusion around the time of Congo's independence in 1960 from Belgium.[2]

Chief of Defence Staff

Aferi continued in the military on his return to Ghana where he rose to the rank of Brigadier. He was promoted Major General and made the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after the dismissal of Major General Otu, then CDS by President Nkrumah.[3] He was the last CDS to serve before the overthrow of Nkrumah in Ghana's first military coup.

Politics

Aferi was the first Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in the National Redemption Council military government of General Kutu Acheampong in 1972.[4]

Death

Aferi died on April 8, 2003 in Accra, Ghana.[5][6]

References

2. "Third Man Up". Time. September 1960. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
3. Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr. (December 2006). "When Dancers Play Historians and Thinkers-Part 19". feature article. ModernGhana.com. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
4. "Foreign ministers E-K:Ghana". Rulers.org. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
5. "General Aferi Is Dead". General News of Tuesday, 6 May 2003. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
6. "Rulers:April 2003". Rulers.org. Retrieved 2008-11-05.